What Researchers Did
Researchers investigated the immediate impact of a 90-minute hyperbaric oxygen treatment on recovery after prolonged exercise and on aerobic performance in 12 trained male and female runners.
What They Found
A single 90-minute hyperbaric oxygen treatment at 2.5 atm abs did not enhance recovery following prolonged exercise in 12 trained runners. This treatment also failed to alter submaximal or maximal running performance, as assessed by VO2max and oxygen cost of running.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Canadian athletes or individuals seeking to enhance recovery after prolonged exercise or improve aerobic performance should not expect benefits from a single hyperbaric oxygen treatment. This specific intervention, involving 90 minutes of 95% oxygen at 2.5 atmospheres absolute, appears ineffective for these purposes.
Canadian Relevance
This study has Canadian relevance as it was conducted by Canadian researchers, contributing to the understanding of hyperbaric oxygen effects within a Canadian research context.
Study Limitations
A key limitation of this study is its small sample size of 12 trained runners and its focus on the acute effects of a single hyperbaric oxygen treatment.